The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-01-28
GREAT STRIKE IN NEW YORK.
over 80, 900 'Longshoremen and
Coal Heavers Out OF Employment.
Steamers, Not Receiving Supplies Of
Coal, Cannot sail.
The Steamship Companies Greatly
Alarmed by the Situation.
The workIngmen Make a General
Demand for an Increase OF Pay.

New YORK, Jan. 27.-Twenty thousand
men are this afternoon ON strike along the
river front Of this city. They incldde all
the coal shovelers, 'longshoremen, freight
handlers and men employed on the river
banks in almost every capacity, and the
number is augmented to $1,000 by the strik-
ers on the Brooklyn and Jersey shores. In
consequence 1t is almost impossible for any
Of the steamers for Europe or along the
coast to leave port.
The order went forth yesterday from the
headquarters Of the Longshoremen's Union,
which was backed by the Knights Of Labor
Assembly No. 40. and this morning the men
turned out in full force. Beach walkers
were sent out to cover all the various points
ON the river fronts where the troubles were
concentrated and they had particular in
structions to use every means in their power
to prevent any disturbance, also to keep a
lookout for parties, who, in the interest Of
the coal companies and steamship lines
might attempt to create trouble.
The men are considerably elated at the
favorable reports that the walking delegates,
or beach walkers, are bringing In. Not a
single steamer had been able TO take In its
regular supply OF coal and consequently
would not be able 10 sail on the day appoint
ed. At the Cunard dock the Gallia could
not be discharged because majority Of the
piece men turned out.
The next move will be to get the engineers
on the tug boats to refuse TO burn coal or tow
IT, and other Tabor organizations which are
dependent on coal supply will be COM
PEELED to work in tue cause Of the strikers.
BY thus extending the strike to other
branches Of trade, the strikers committee Is
OF the opinion that it will force matters to
crisis more promptly.
The ferry boats are seriously incon-
venienced on account Of the lack Of coal and
one line had out grocery and other wagons
buying coal by the half ton from small yards.
But when they came round so often the coal
dealers refused TO SELL
The steamboat squad Is scattered along the
river 'front.' at piers where men and cOmpa-
mes are In open conflict, but no disturbance
occurred up to noon.
The strike along the river front Of Brook
iiyn also went into effect this morning. The
l0lgsh0remen, train sh0velers, freight hand
lers. coal handlers, trimmers and other
laborers went out quietly and determinedly.
Freight has accumulated on the docks ready
for shipment while several vessels are wait
ing to discharge eargoes. The steamers
about to sail are delayed for want Of coal and
pretty general Interruption of Maritime
traffic bids fair to be inaugurated.
The police are on guard at all the stores
from Fulton ferry to Red Hook. Later In
the day the authorities saw fit, as double
precautionary measures, to have the entire
police force held in reserve at the station
houses throughout the city so as TO be ready
to meet any outbreak.
feeling Of alarm was manifested among
the steamship men this forenoon. The Grip
ping OF the fuel supply will cause an imme-
diate loss Of thousands of dollars per day to
a score OF companies. Already action Is be-
Dated 1y the companies in reference to me-
morializing Prefident Cleveland asking him
70 take such steps as will remove obstruc-
tlons TO navigation real and threatened.
They claim that the United States govern
ment must make very short work Of any
movement that even remotely threatens the
maintenance Of the usual commercial rela-
tlons between this and other countries. A
French line OF steamers will at one, it is re-
ported, take steps to forward men from
France to New York on all its steamers for
the purpose Of loading coal In New York.
AT the Delaware and Lackawana and
western company's yards in Jersey City the
situation is the same as yesterday Two Of
the new men were caught between coal cars
this morning and were fatally injured.
The interests Of the pilots are with the
workmen and they will refuse to take out
ships
One of the ideas of the leaders is to at
tract the attention Of the business communi-
strike.
The executive board of the Ocean Assoeia-
tlon OF LOngshoremen, and international
Boatmen's Union, including grain elevator
men, bag sewers, ,trimmers, caulkers and beef
carriers met in convention last night and
agreed to the following:
l. We make a general demand for 40 cents an
hour for days work, and 60 cents an hour for
all men employed at night, and for all 'l0ngshOre
men men "orklng ON transatanle ships and steam.
ships, and 80 cents an hour for a days work and
go cents an hour for night work on all coastwise
vessels.
2. This stand Is final and furthermore we will
consider It final until the coal men get their de-
mand OF two and half cents per hour advance,
and the Old Dominion steamship company agrees
upon our scale already proposed.